Purpose: The purpose of this review is to establish a better understanding of competitive remineralization technologies that are currently competing with NovaMinin the professional dental market place. Although the focus of these competitive technologies is tooth remineralization, we will focus on the desensitization potential of these technologies as compared to the NovaMin containing products currently being marketed for sensitivity reduction.

Background: Over the past seven years the interest in calcium phosphate based remineralization technologies has grown significantly and a number of new technologies are currently available in the professional dental products arena. These technologies are relatively new and are not well understood by most clinicians and hygienists and there is confusion about the similarities and differences between technologies. The following summary will establish the differences between NovaMin and other currently available technologies to help gain a better understanding of the competitive advantages of NovaMin.

A synthetic mineral composed of calcium, sodium, phosphorous and silica, all elements naturally occurring in the body.

Silica (glass) containing Ca and PO is the driving mechanism that binds to the tooth surface.

Casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP)

Casein phosphopeptide is a milk protein peptide that is bound to amorphous calcium phosphate

The milk derived peptide containing amorphous Ca and PO is the driving mechanism that binds to the tooth surface.

Arginine bicarbonate and calcium carbonate

Arginine bicarbonate is an amino acid complex found in saliva that is bound to calcium carbonate

ACP

ACP is inorganic amorphous calcium phosphate, made by combining soluble salts of calcium and phosphorous

How does it work?

NovaMin releases high levels of Ca2+ and P5+ into the oral environment, along with Na+ that increases oral pH, creating the ideal conditions for rapid tooth remineralization.

The silica containing Ca, PO and Na bind to the tooth surface.

The Na buffers the pH above 7 (the pH is needed to be above 7 to allow for the precipitation of crystals onto the tooth surface)

The NovaMin will release rapid and continuous deposition of a natural, crystalline hydroxyl-carbonate apatite (HCA) layer that is chemically and structurally the same as tooth mineral. No other man-made materials is known to directly lead to the formation of these crystals in the body. NovaMin has also been shown to have significant anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory benefits.